USA Travel Guide

I’ve never been a professed fan of 90’s alt-rock outfit the Gin Blossoms. At most I know one of their songs. But if I was a Gin Blossoms fan, I’d be one of the luckiest Gin Blossoms fans in the world. Since 2002, I’ve had the opportunity to see them live and for free four times! And yet, I never have…

I take you on this strange digression only because the opening stage act at this year’s Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival is the one and only Gin Blossoms. Join me, won’t you, and skip out on yet another chance to see this no doubt incredible band.

(I also missed the chance once to see Blue Öyster Cult for free; now that one stings a little).

The 18^th Annual Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival in Biloxi, Mississippi is just the kind of festival I can get behind: there’s an array of festival fun, but ultimately it all comes down to the food. Call’em crayfish, call’em crawdads, call’em mudbugs – whatever you call’em, they’re good eats, and at the MS Coast Crawfish Festival, they’re boiling, roasting and frying up over 20,000 lbs. of’em Cajun-style.

If you want your pick of the best bugs, pony up ten bucks for a tasting ticket and sample from all the teams competing in the Saturday Crawfish Cook-off. For the cost of your ticket, you can even cast a vote in the People’s Choice award. Whether you pay premium or not, there will be plenty of food on-hand, so bring that appetite of yours no matter what.

If you can pull yourself away from the concessions long enough, you might just have a little fun with your feast. The Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival boasts a humongous midway packed with carnival rides and prove-your-manliness games. The rides are actually pretty affordable, but you can skip the hassle of constantly fishing for your wallet by picking up a Pay-One-Price Armband offering unlimited rides (except on Saturdays )

If you prefer musical mudbug mastication, drop by the show stage to see a merry mix of used-to-be-famous and never-was-famous stars. On the first Friday you have the ubiquitous Gin Blossoms, and on following nights you can see the original beat boxer, Doug E. Fresh, as well as The Wailers, Midnight Star and a band featuring most of Santana (but not actually Santana).

All-in-all, it’s one Biloxi Bash that you festivals fans don’t want to miss.

The 18^th Annual Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival will be held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi on April 15-18 and April 22-25, 2010. Get more information here.

Have fun at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival in Biloxi, Mississippi!

One day USA Travel Guide may get to Napa Valley, what with all its pomp and prestige, but until then we’re perfectly happy sipping our way through the lesser-knowns. A couple months back we visited the Livermore Valley outside of San Francisco. Today we’re heading even farther afield to the Santa Ynez wine region just north of Santa Barbara, California. Join us for a Back-Country Wine Tour out of Santa Barbara.

The Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours Company knows Santa Barbara and the wine region better than anyone, having run comprehensive tours of the area for over 10 years. In fact, the company much resembles the wineries on their tours: family run and inspired by the beauty and bounty of Southern California.

The company offers several tour options, from excursions deep into the Santa Ynez Mountains to hunting trips, but today we’re all about that beloved beverage that my wife assures me “tastes like burning”: wine. Whatever your poison – red, white, varietals – the wineries of Santa Ynez have the perfect pour, and the Back-Country Wine Tour is your chance to sample from the best.

You’re morning starts when you climb aboard a cushy 4-7 passenger jeep in Santa Barbara. It’s about an hour drive up to the wine region (near Solvang), but the splendid scenery and your driver’s friendly narration will have the time passed before long. You’ll know when you made it. The lush vineyards stretch for miles in every direction, rolling along with the attractive contours of the wine country.

Don’t go all Avatar on us now, there’s wine to taste. The Back-Country Wine Tour includes visits to four wineries for tastings, wine discussions and conversation. The Santa Ynez Wine Country has over 20 excellent wineries, and your scheduled four aren’t necessarily set in stone. I can’t predict just where you’ll be headed, so if you’d like a little prep, I recommend you read up on the Santa Barbara wineries.

After four stops and a gourmet deli lunch (sandwiches, but, you know, good sandwiches), it’s finally time to head back home. On the return trip, your driver will give you a taste of Cloud Climbers’ gamier tours with a couple canyon trails.

All in all, it’s a good a use of six and a half hours as any you’ll find in Santa Barbara. If you’re a wine lover in Southern California looking for something new, treat yourself to the Back-Country Wine Tour of Santa Barbara by Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours.

Info: $120 per adult/semi-private tour, or $550 for a private jeep for four. Includes live narrated tour, tastings at 4 wineries, a logo wine glass and gourmet lunch at one of the wineries. Tours depart from Santa Barbara at 10:00 a.m. Learn more.

Hotel: We love staying in Santa Barbara as much as we love exploring its top attractions. Stay at one of our favorite Santa Barbara hotels with the Holiday Inn Santa Barbara – Goleta Hotel.

Have fun!

After two weeks of hearts, roses and other frou-frou crap, I’ve got a hunger for big slabs of slow-cooked meat and voluntarily broken bones. The only place I know to get all that action at once is the 2010 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

Actually, these two major Houston events don’t occur simultaneously, but they do run back to back and all the reason you need to head to Space City this February or March. Question is: which do you choose?

The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest kicks off a month of entertainment with a 3-day run of slow-smoked competition. Pitmasters come from all over the country to slice, pull and plate some of the best smoked sausage, brisket and baby back ribs you’ll have in your life. Don’t be alarmed if the pits seem a little loony – there’s an award for that, too! This Houston Bar-B-Que contest runs at the Reliant Center February 25-7, 2010.

It’s all a smoky, meaty warm-up, however. Starting March 2 all the way through March 21, 2010, the Reliant Center is given over to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the biggest Houston events of the year. All the traditional rodeo sports – bronc and bull riding, barrel racing, roping – earn the brave riders over a million dollars in prize money. For the fans, the prize is dangerous competition and a relentless concert schedule of country music superstars. Throughout the three weeks you can see Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley (personal fav) and Keith Urban.

So, that’s the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest from February 25-27, 2010. Learn more.

Or the 2010 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo from March 2 – 21, 2010. Learn more.

Choose one, choose both, and don’t overspend doing it by staying at one of our favorites hotels in downtown Houston, the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown. The hotel is offering cheap rates during both events through a duo of packages. Both the “BBQ Cook-Off Weekend Package” and the “Houston Rodeo Package” will get you a nice room (and they are!), breakfast buffet for two, free valet parking and transportation to the LightRail Station. Learn about these Houston Bar-B-Que and Rodeo packages here.

Have fun!

Hard to believe the 2010 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival is almost upon us. Feels like we’re still reeling from last year’s smorgasbord of Lowcountry opulence. Magnificent meals, tasty tidbits, luscious libations, celebrity sightings, it’s not quite the same as your local “Taste of…”

The Charleston Food + Wine Festival has fast become a major foodie event on America’s culinary calendar. Attendees come from all over the nation, as do award-winning and celebrity chefs of both local and global acclaim.

What’s so different about Charleston? For one thing, the festival, like the city itself, caters very well both up and down. Food festival mainstays like cooking demonstrations and general tasting tents are joined by high-end extravagances like private dinners in the home of an acclaimed chef.

Add on a tremendous wine program and the whole 3-day event takes on a gourmand sensibility. You don’t just go to get stuffed – you go to celebrate food and eating.

As before, the 2010 Charleston Food + Wine Festival is built around the Culinary Village at Marion Square. Here you’ll find endless delights under the Grand Tasting Tents, celebrity cooking demos, book signings, cooking competitions, charity auctions, live music and a chance to meet any number of incredible chefs.

The festival has always touted big guests, and this year they’re rolling out a platter of Top Chef favorites: Brian Malarkey, Eli Kirshtein, Kevin Gillespie and Richard Blaise. Also on the docket are the Food Network’s Tyler Florence and all-round super chef Daniel Boulud. (Eating at his namesake restaurant in NYC is on my bucket list. Yes, even travel writers have bucket lists).

On the luxury end of the Festival, you can purchase tickets for the Red, White and Lowcountry SpiritLine Cruise, a relaxing cruise of Charleston Harbor flavored with delicious wine pairings. The Bubbles and Sweets Soiree makes a good Saturday night party, a good follow-up, in fact, to the Craft Beer Dinner. Events can sell out quickly and early, so look into the schedule and buy up soon.

The 2010 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival will be hosted March 4-7, 2010, primarily at Marion Square but really all around Charleston. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Save on Your Tickets – A Charleston Food + Wine Festival Hotel
One of our favorite Charleston hotels, the Mills House, is offering two package options featuring luxury accommodations (the rooms really are wonderful), breakfast each day, and tickets to the Charleston Food + Wine Festival.

• Wine & Food Connoisseur Package – the higher-end package includes tasting tent tickets and tickets to Saturday’s Bubbles & Sweets party (hard to come by).
• Wine & Food Gourmet Package – this more affordable package sticks to the general festival tickets, but try not to have a fabulous time!

View the Charleston Food + Wine Festival hotel packages here.

Have a delicious time!

Going to be in Manhattan this Thursday? We’ve got the dish on a cool, casual wine event located in the heart of the city that’s absolutely free. Find the perfect pour paired with succulent gourmet tapas, and kick your evening off right.

Banfi Wine Tasting Event
Head to the Crowne Plaza Times Square on Broadway this Thursday, December 10, for the exclusive Banfi Wine Tasting Event. A Wine and Dine representative from Tuscany’s family-owned Castello Banfi will be on hand with six incredible wines paired expertly with soulful dishes cooked on-site by Crowne Plaza’s popular Brasserie 1605.

I understand they play it light and loose, calling it a “self-tasting”. That means you’re free to meander from station to station at your pace, savoring every last loving sip. You could say the event is free in more ways than one.

View the menu.

Featured wines include:
Brunello di Montalcino (red)
Centine (red)
Chianti Classico Riserva (red)
Gavia Gavi (red)
Summus (white)
Rosa Regal (sparkling red)

Learn more about these wines and the Castello Banfi philosophy here.

The Banfi Wine Tasting Event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Times Square lounge, Broadway 49, on Thursday, December 10 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. For questions and RSVP (preferred, but not required), contact manager Lauren Roth at lauren.roth(at)ihg.com, or visit the Web site.

Svedka Vodka Event
Happened to notice the Crowne Plaza Times Square is also hosting a vodka tasting and pairing event just a week later featuring Svedka Vodka. I don’t know any more than the Web site has to tell, but this seemed a cool follow-up to the more, say, common wine tasting.

The Svedka Vodka Tasting Event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Time Square lounge, Broadway 49, on December 16 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. like the Banfi event, it’s completely free. Learn more.

So I just planned your Thursday night for you. That was awful nice of me.

Have fun!

Feel like a slave to the same ol’ parties in the same ol’ places? Maybe it’s cheetos and Cranium at a friend’s house. Maybe it’s that special occasion sparkling at the wine bar. Either way, if you feel like you’ve done it all before, do something different for New Year’s Eve this year with an impromptu getaway to the Northwoods Resort in Big Bear Lake, California.

The ski season is just starting up at this SoCal mountain resort, located about three hours out of LA, and believe it or not New Year’s Eve may be the best time of all to check it out. Spend the day on the slopes, both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit resorts offer terrific skiing and snowboarding (as we’ve discussed in the past), then head back to the lodge for a night of dancing and responsible drinking.

Big Bear Lake, California is packed with hotels and resorts, but we like Northwoods Resort any time of year, because we groove to the faux-Adirondack décor, we like the restaurant and they never run less than a half-dozen packages to accent the trip. For New Year’s Eve, the deal gets even sweeter with the annual Northwoods New Year’s Eve Bash in Big Bear.

From 8:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to 1:30 a.m. early New Year’s morning, Northwoods is the place to be for New Year’s Eve in Big Bear Lake. The adults-only party features party favors at the door, a cash bar, a live DJ (Arrowhead DJ, check your volume), games and entertainment, and a champagne toast to ring in the New Year. Best yet, you can afford to get a little soused, because you’re already at the hotel!

The New Year’s Eve Party at Northwoods Resort charges $25 cover, and reservations come highly recommended, call 909-866-3121.

Unfortunately, there are no party packages (that I can find), so you’ll have to spring for the cover separate, but it looks like you can save on that, and get dinner out of the deal, by dining at the on-site restaurant before the party. The page is a little vague, so I called them up. Apparently, if you present your dining bill at the front desk, they’ll take $5 off the cover charge per person. Not bad. Reservations required at dinner, same number.

A rockin’ New Year’s Eve bash tucked into the valleys of the San Bernardino Mountains of South Cali, that’s what I’d call something different. Learn more about the Northwoods Big Bear Lake Resort.

Have a fabulous New Year’s Eve!

I know Thanksgiving is just a day away, but forgive me if we skip a little ahead to talk about one of the biggest Christmas events in the nation. In fact, some of the fun has already begun.

A Country Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland is a rockin’ Christmas-themed celebration of all things Nashville: music, family, food and plenty of good friends. Not just one event, the Gaylord Opryland’s Country Christmas is a month-long extravaganza of hotly-anticipated shows, musicals, rides, play areas and more.

Before you have a chance to take one step into a theatre, expect to be gob-smacked by holiday cheer. The famous, to say nothing of humongous, Gaylord Opryland Resort is decked roof to hall with millions of sparkling lights, joined with no less care by thousands of classic Christmas decorations. Simply walking the grounds is a holiday treat in itself (and don’t worry, you won’t be the only one).

Along with more than a dozen smaller attractions – the beautiful Christmas tree, holiday shopping, Santa Clause, and the play area – A Country Christmas boasts four ticketed events. These always draw the most attention. 

• Radio City Christmas Spectacular feat. The Rockettes – The iconic New York City showcase comes to the Grand Ole Opry House in the heart of Nashville. The sheer spectacle is worth the cost of admission alone. Learn more.
• General Jackson Showboat – The year-round showboat is debuting two Christmas programs this season for midday and evening cruises. Check out fiddle virtuoso Tim Watson’s Tennessee Christmas. Learn more.
• Louise Mandrell’s “Joy to the World” Dinner & Show – Country music star Louise Mandrell puts on a riveting concert while you enjoy a holiday feast. Learn more.
• ICE! –  2 million pounds of ice went into this breathtaking ice sculpture garden. Kids love this one, especially with the Peanuts theme, and so will you. Learn more.

The only humbug in this bunch is that not a one of them is inexpensive. However, you can usually save some scratch by choosing the right hotel and not getting carried away with too many of A Country Christmas’ paid attractions.

We say skip the resort prices and stay cozy near the airport. The Holiday Inn Nashville Airport Hotel always proves a refreshing choice for us. The complimentary airport shuttle and free parking help, too. Learn about this Nashville hotel.

A Country Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland Resort runs now through early January, though hours and schedules of individual attractions will vary. Follow any of the links above to learn more about it and order tickets.

Have fun this holiday season!

When we wrote about Rawhide Western Town nearly a year ago now, they called it Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, and their sign was a fair bit more charming, too. But changing the name doesn’t change the fact that Rawhide is still a fun afternoon excursion for anyone in the Phoenix area. So happens it’s also a great place to rustle up some unusual holiday entertainment.

Holiday Events at Rawhide Western Town
Put yourself in the moment. Horses tied to a splintered old post, dusty saloon door swinging in the breeze, a raggy jingle slinking its way up and down the piano. You hear raised voices in the bar, just on the edge of a brawl, then the sudden clink of spurs behind you. The sheriff walks up slow, a wizened calm exuding through the sun-burnt wrinkles on his face. Welcome to the Wild West!

Maybe you’re thinking John Wayne, maybe Clint Eastwood, or maybe you’re like me and you’re thinking Firefly. Either way, live the spirit of the Wild West, without the hassle of a ruthless untimely death, at Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse near Phoenix, Arizona.

This free-to-enter entertainment destination offers Wild West-themed amusements aplenty – costumed actors, mechanical bull riding, authentic stagecoach rides, shooting galleries, and themed shows packed with trick roping, gun twirling, horse-riding and, of course, dude shooting.

That’s just a selection, because what we’re really here to talk about (said the blogger five paragraphs in) is the special Thanksgiving and holiday attractions at Rawhide. For Thanksgiving, the delicious Rawhide Steakhouse is featuring a special menu loaded with all your favorites – butter basted turkey, honey-lime glazed ham, country sausage and corn bread stuffing and green bean casserole. Because it’s Rawhide, you can also get a succulent prime rib. Learn more.

Head back just a week later for the start of Rawhide’s “Cowboy Christmas”. Beginning December 3, Rawhide Western Town will take on an uncharacteristic red and green glow as the spirit of the season takes over Main Street. New holiday shows will play at both theatres, and every evening will kick-off in festive glamour with the lighting of an 80-ft. Christmas tree. Santa might even roll in on a horse-drawn carriage.

All the fun of Rawhide plus tree-lighting and holiday music and a Wild West Santa? That’s a lot of seasonal fun!

Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse is open Thursday – Sunday, although their event hours do vary. It’d be easier for you to look it up following the link below. Rawhide is free to enter, and you can pay for attractions either by one or you can purchase an unlimited wristband (recommended). Learn more.

Rawhide is located south of Phoenix off I-10, and we always stay in town. For hotels in Phoenix, we again recommend the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Hotel. The hotel is situated near several of our favorite attractions, or at least within a reasonable drive, and we’ve always found the accommodations a cut above.

Have fun! 

Keeping it small this Thanksgiving? Got no big to-do to look forward to? Live in Texas? Well, don’t spend this Thanksgiving moping around. Liven up your holiday with an impromptu Texas Hill Country vacation to the Canyon of the Eagles.

The rustic lodge and nature preserve in the heart of central Texas is throwing a major Thanksgiving feast, and if you act fast, you can make sure you get a seat at the table. Imagine it: retuning from a day amidst the scenic beauty and outdoorsy freedom of the Texas Hill Country to a bustling Thanksgiving buffet overflowing with more than twenty traditional favorites.

Moist turkey, roasted or deep-fried (yum), succulent Prime Rib, garlicky mashed taters, the classic green been casserole, stuffing, bread and lots more will tempt you to rise for one plate after another. Just save room for dessert. The dessert buffet is loaded with holiday staples like pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate cake and, my favorite, pecan pie. (Though nobody makes it good as my father’s).

If letting someone else cook Thanksgiving dinner for once wasn’t good enough, afterwards you’ll have a cool place to crash. The rooms at Canyon of the Eagles resemble 1920s Texas Hill Country lodging from the bed boards to the use of native stone. Grab a rocking chair on one of the community porches, make a friend with a story or two, and don’t be afraid to doze off.

Canyon of the Eagles Texas Hill Country Resort will serve its Thanksgiving buffet on Thursday, November 27, 2009. There are four seatings – 11:00, 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 – and reservations are required. Cost is $37.99 per adult, $16.95 per child (ages 4-12). To make dinner reservations, call 1-800-977-0081, or view the menu for more information.

For reservations at Canyon of the Eagles, start here.

Have a fun and unusual Thanksgiving getaway this year!

There aren’t many state fairs that demand national and even international travel, yearly pilgrimages from food and fun lovers the world over, but the State Fair of Texas in Dallas is one of them. Millions come to experience the incredible diversity and outrageous personality of the nation’s largest state fair. If you’ve never been, make this your year.

I suppose the State Fair of Texas isn’t so different than most other state fairs. There’s just a lot more of it. From endless rows of concession stands dishing up all kinds of unique favorites to free concerts and one-of-a-kind shows, the Fair offers minute-to-minute entertainment for the whole family, all of their friends and even some of their enemies.

The full-blown, 300,000 square-foot Auto Show is an annual head-turner. Thanks to the size of the space and the size of the audience, both national and international automakers often choose the State Fair of Texas Auto Show to debut new product, whether it’s a future/retro concept ride or something you can expect to see on the lots next year. The adjacent Classic Corral is a popular stop for true car buffs, featuring more than 1,000 vintage and collectible automobiles.

But I won’t tease you any longer. We all know the real star of whole the shebang is the food! It started with the best corn dog in the world, the Fletcher’s Corn Dog, and has expanded year after year into a deep fried empire. Bring an appetite and plenty of friends for sharing to take on these deep-fried delights:

• Deep-Fried Butter, this marquee snack is exactly what it sounds like
• Deep-Fried Peanuts
• Chicken-Fried Bacon
• Deep-Fried Nutter Butters, my fav
• Fried Apple w/ Peanut Butter on a Stick
• Deep-Fried Pizza, pepperoni or sausage
• Deep-Fried, Chocolate-Dipped Jalapeños
• Southern Fried Fajitas, the meat is deep-fried
• Deep-Fried Banana Split
• Deep-Fried Oreos, Snickers, Twinkies, Truffles

You’ll find more traditional treats as well, like burgers and fries, but what would be the point. You can get those anywhere. When you come to the State Fair of Texas, you owe it to yourself to go deep-fried.

Entertainment abounds. Between meals (or during), talk a stroll through the vendor pavilions, sure to be selling everything from blenders that can do your taxes to Sham-wows, which I find even more amazing. If you need to rest your feet, find a cozy place to site near the main stage. All concerts are free with your admission, and this year’s big name line-up includes Idol-alum Jason Castro, Edwin McCain, Miranda Lambert, En Vogue, The Commodores and several others.

I just don’t have the space to mention it all: there’s a livestock show, daily entertainment programs throughout the park, cooking classes and demonstrations, a humongous carnival midway (also where you’ll find a lot of the best food), nightly water shows, the starlight parade, and of course the Red River Shootout, the hotly-anticipated match up between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners. The RRR is hosted at the Cotton Bowl, situated in the center of the park. You can’t miss it.

They’re even taping the Oprah Winfrey Show at the Fair on October 12.

I’ve scratched the surface, but really you need to see it for yourself. The 2009 State Fair of Texas is currently ongoing and will run daily through October 18. The Fair is located at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Learn more.

Have fun at the State Fair of Texas!